Many fantasy creatures are based on the human form. They are a distortion of it. Let's take a look.

Distortion and fantasy creatures: We have taken a look at the average human male and you have a sense for the symmetry and even-ness of the body. but maybe you want to draw figures that are not human. This is where knowing the human body is actually very important because it is when you distort the average shape you get some really good variations. This illustration shows an average human and two other figures. They are all humanoid and they are all the same height but by distorting the shapes we get some really good creatures. the center figure is very troll-like because we have made it very thick. Notice how the legs are shorter and very stout. The shoulders are much broader and the overall figure is very thick. This makes it look shorter even though it is the same height as the human. In the third figure I have thinned out the whole body; the legs,torso, and arms are all very slender and this makes it look muscular ina wiry way. This would be a perfect starting point for drawing goblins or elves.

You should practice doing some distortions of the human shape - Be creative and let your imagination flow. Do body distortions and try some facial distortions.

Le'ts continue on to the next fantasy art lesson - In this next lesson we take a break and do some doodling to help cultivate creativity.

Hell Beasts: How to draw grotesque fantasy creatures

If you harbor a love of imagery most foul, of demons and monsters and devils of all sorts . . . then welcome to the book from hell. Within its pages lurk sadistic orcs, flesh-eating zombies, blood-thirsty dragons, unholy monstrosities and dreaded beasts of legend and lore.

How to Draw and Paint Fantasy Architecture: From Ancient Citadels and Gothic Castles to Subterranean Palaces and Floating Fortresses

Advice and instruction from a leading fantasy illustrator guides art students who intend to pursue careers illustrating computer games, children's books, graphic novels, and other related media. This book's opening chapter analyzes traditional architectural shapes that include arches, columns, towers, vaults, and buttresses. Chapters that follow apply principles of lighting, shadow, and perspective to the architectural forms, and discuss ways of creating surface textures and adding dramatic atmosphere to illustrations. Readers are then guided through a series of projects of increasing complexity in which they create illustrations dominated by fantasy castles, palaces, dungeons, and more. Here is comprehensive instruction in the techniques required for capturing fantastic buildings, alien architecture, and alternate realities. More than 250 enlightening color illustrations.